China's low-altitude economy to reach 1.5 trillion yuan

The market size of China's low-altitude economy is expected to reach 1.5 trillion yuan (about 211 billion U.S. dollars) in 2025, according to a forecast from the ongoing 2025 China Aviation Industry Conference in Jiangxi Province.

The conference, which opened Saturday in the prefecture-level city Jingdezhen, underlined the robust, sustained growth in the low-altitude economy. It further projected that the market size could exceed 2 trillion yuan by 2030.

Behind the rapid expansion is across-the-board progress in low-altitude equipment. Data show China now has 969 companies registered in the civil unmanned-aircraft product information system, filing 3,191 types of aircraft totaling more than 4.78 million units. In 2015, China's home-grown aircraft RX4E, the world's first four-seat electric aircraft, received a type certificate from the Civil Aviation Administration, signaling a breakthrough in new energy aviation technology.

"The industry keeps growing in scale, with the product portfolio constantly improved, and serialization pacing up. The low-altitude-equipment market is markedly more dynamic, with both the number of enterprises and the variety of products expanding. In 2024 the output value of civil-aerospace products surpassed 160 billion yuan, up 23.6 percent year on year," said Vice Minister of Industry and Information Technology Xin Guobin at the opening ceremony of the conference on Saturday.

Spurred by supportive policies, pilot low-altitude economy programs in selected regions including Xinjiang, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Yangtze River Delta have already delivered standout results.

Low-altitude logistics in particular is surging, with more than 140 new cargo routes opened and 48 billion instant delivery orders fulfilled in 2024.

Industry forecasts say China's drone-logistics output could exceed 1 trillion yuan by 2035, with an average annual growth rate of about 20 percent.

China's low-altitude economy to reach 1.5 trillion yuan

The spillover effects of the ongoing Middle East conflict have driven up commodity prices in Ethiopia, taking a heavy toll on people's daily life, especially for the low-income population.

With U.S.-Israeli joint military strikes on Iran now exceeding one month and no clear resolution in sight, the economic aftershocks are spreading far beyond the Middle East.

As part of its response to U.S. and Israeli operations, Iran has restricted navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, targeting ships associated with the United States and Israel. The blockade of this vital global energy route has driven up oil and gas prices worldwide.

In Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, long queues of vehicles could be seen at gas stations waiting for fuel. Prices of other goods are also on the rise.

"The prices of goods are going up every day. If the conflict continues, life will become very hard, especially for people with low incomes," said Zeynu Yelma, a shop owner.

Beyond rising living costs, the surge in prices has also hit the local construction industry.

"Over the past two weeks, the prices of building materials have risen sharply, severely affecting our work. The price of cement has nearly doubled. Sand and gravel costs continue to rise. The price of steel has also surged. If this trend continues, I'm afraid our work may have to stop," said Yetbarek Workenhe, manager of a construction site.

Although local authorities have been working to secure supplies, provide subsidies, and prioritize public services, the severe international situation continues to widen the supply gap.

Spillover effects of Middle East conflict push up prices in Ethiopia